meinhold



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

T. MBINHOLD.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. N0.'329,473. Patented Nov. 3, 1885.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

T. MEINHOLD.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(No Model.

N. PETERS, Phclo-Lilh rgramr. Washinginn, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE MEINHOLD, OF KLINGENTHAL, SAXONY, GERMANY.

M ECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,473, dated November 3, 1885.

Application filed June 24, 1884. Serial No. 135,856. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE MEINHOLD, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Klingenthal,in the Kingdom of Saxony and Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music- Boxes,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improved music-box, autophone, or other similar small reed instrument. In these instruments there is provided a barrel rotated by a spring or weight and carrying a number of pins,which upon the rotation of said barrel trip a row of vibrating tongues situated over the reeds; or a perforated ribbon is provided to form the different notes, as will be understood.

Heretofore in the construction of these instruments it has been necessary to provide a fly-wheel or regulator to render the speed of the barrel uniform, the air to be fed to the reeds being provided from a bellows.

The object of this invention is to provide air-feeding mechanism, which will also serve as a regulator for the barrel,and further to improve and simplify the general construction and arrangement of the instrument; and to the accomplishment of the above the invention consists of the novel devices and combination of devices, as will be described and claimed.

Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical sectional view through the instrument; Fig. 2, a sectional plan view on line 1 l of Fig.1; Fig. 3, a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a view showing the instrument as driven by a weight instead of a spring.

Like letters refer to like parts in each view.

A represents the box or casing, which is divided into three chambers, A A A, for the purpose to be named. Through the outer wall of compartment A, and having end bearing in the Wall separating that compartment from that marked A ,is the winding-stem B, carrying the spring 0, and at apoint near its outer end the ratchet D,with which a pawl, E, engages. At a point near the inner end of stem B there is mounted acog-wheel F,which as the spring unwinds is revolved and meshes with a cog,G, to which motion is thus imparted. 00g G is keyed to one end of a shaft,I:I, at or about the center of which there is provideda worm, I, which, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, meshes with suitable gearing mounted upon one end of the barrel J, to impart motion to said barrel. Barrel J is situated within the compartment A and in its revolution the pins a, secured to its outer circumference, contact withf and trip a series of vibrating tongues,K, pivoted at b, and held in position by springs 0. At their outer ends tongues K are each provided with a mute, d, which are adapted to close the openings 0, situated over the vibrating ends of the reeds L. Reeds L are situated, as shown, in compartment A which forms the wind-chest of the instrument, and in which is situated a fan, M. This fan is mounted upon a shaft,N, which has bearings in the frame-work of the box A, as shown, and which extends through compartment A with its end protruding into compartment A. Motion is imparted to this shaft and the fan through the medium of the following line of gearing: A pinion, O, meshes with the cog G, before referred to, and this pinion is mounted upon a shaft, 1?, upon which a cog, Q, is also mounted, said cog Q, in its revolution meshing with a cog, R, keyed to shaft N. By this arrangement it will be seen that the fan is driven from the spring 0, and that in its revolution, in addition to feeding air to the reeds, it acts as a regulator to the speed of the barrel J.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the instrument provided with a weight, S, in place of the spring referred to.

Access may be gained to compartment A through an opening in the top of the box covered by ahingedlid,'1. An opening may also be formed in the top of compartment A", over which a perforated plate, V, may be placed.

What I claim is 1. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the driving mechanism, of a rotary air-feeding device operated 'by intermediate connections with said mechanism, and thus adaptedto act as a speedregulator, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. poses set forth.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, In testimony whereof I affix my signature the combination of suitable driving meehanin presence of two witnesses.

mechanism, substantially as and for the pur- 5 ism, a revolving pin studded barrel, a se- THEODORE MEINHOLD.

ries of vibrating tongues, a series of reeds, Witnesses: and'a rotary fan mounted on a shaft driven FRED. P. WILKIE,

by intermediate gearing with the driving FELIX SGHUBE. 

